New to the Hobby

[amontalvo915]

My husband and I are new to the hobby, and I was wondering...where can I go to get authentic women's clothing and shoes?

Thanks,

Ashley Montalvo

[paulcalloway]

Re: New to the Hobby

Ashley -
You'll want to check the buy/sell/trade areas here on the forum as well as the Approved Vendors list.

[Spinster]

Re: New to the Hobby

Much of the Approved Vendor list is geared, quite rightly, towards the soldiers end of the hobby. One however, is devoted exclusively to women's clothing, and Anna Allen is especially talented in fitting and reproducing clothing for young women in your age range:

http://www.thegracefullady.com/civilwargowns/

Before purchasing dresses however, you'll need proper foundation garments to achieve a proper fit for the period---and that includes a made to measure corset. In that aspect, you are really in luck. While the rest of us have to meausure ourselves and mail off for a corset, Kay Gnagy lives in your town--Fort Wayne, Indiana. She also carries period ladies shoes.

http://www.originals-by-kay.com/

[Chessa]

Re: New to the Hobby

Welcome to the hobby and the forum!

As well as the link Mrs. Lawson provided, if you're planning on sewing you own clothes, or just interested in how the clothes were made, check out Elizabeth Stewart Clark's forum: www.thesewingacademy.org and her main website: www.elizabethstewartclark.com

For shoes, might I reccomend Robert Land? His shoes can be seen here: www.robertlandhistoricshoes.com

[amontalvo915]

Re: New to the Hobby

Thanks for the wonderful links. Also, my husband is getting into the hobby too but cannot decide whether to reenact as civilian, confederate, or union. Are there different experiences to be had in each?

Thanks,

Ashley Montalvo

[Hank Trent]

Re: New to the Hobby

Also, my husband is getting into the hobby too but cannot decide whether to reenact as civilian, confederate, or union. Are there different experiences to be had in each?

In my experience, and others may feel otherwise, the difference in experiences is dependent more on the kind of event attended, rather than the impression. Some events are set up so you're expected to live and interact 24 hours a day as a period person might, whether your occupation is soldier or something else; others have period activities interspersed by modern breaks. Even among the latter, some expect reenactors to stay on-site and use period material culture during the breaks; at others it's the norm to go out to eat or to the parking lot, use modern items, etc.

That's speaking of an individual's experience. As a couple, however, something else to consider is that if he's in the military, he'll probably be portraying a stranger to any civilians in the area. Mainstream events conveniently overlook that fact, but the more accurate ones try to portray it the way it was. The exceptions would be if the army happens to be in a situation where it's either stationed near home (like home guard, occasionally some southern regiments on campaign, or a mustering-in scenario) or where family has come to visit (like winter quarters or a fort), but your time together would probably still be limited, depending on his military duties.

So if you enjoy being together all weekend, a civilian impression would allow that. There are fewer opportunities for civilians at c/p/h events, just due to the fact that historically in many cases, hoardes of soldiers were marching over sparsely occupied land. But if you're interested in doing a p/h civilian impression as a couple, let me know and I can suggest some upcoming events to give it a try.

Hank Trent
hanktrent@voyager.net

[amontalvo915]

Re: New to the Hobby

Sir-

I would like to try out one of the events. Are there any upcoming events good for civilians near Ft. Wayne, IN?

Also, my husband was looking into purchasing some trousers from Stony Brook, but was kind of disappointed when he saw that they weren't on the Approved Vendor's list. Are they still authentic, or must we purchase trousers somewhere else?

Thanks,

Ashley Montalvo

[Hank Trent]

Re: New to the Hobby

I would like to try out one of the events. Are there any upcoming events good for civilians near Ft. Wayne, IN?

Hopefully some more local folks can comment on events specifically in that area, that I'm not aware of. My wife and I are from southern Ohio, and right now, I or we are looking at possibly attending the following as civilians:

October 1862 in Loudoun Co. Virginia, in less than two weeks--probably too soon for you.

Death March, Pennsylvania, summer of 2008 http://www.authentic-campaigner.com/...1865#post71865

Marmaduke's Raid Sept. 26-28 2008 in Missouri: http://campjacksonboy.googlepages.com/home

Westville 1861, October of 2008 in Georgia: http://www.authentic-campaigner.com/...ad.php?t=12503

And probably a few other small events in Georgia, Tennessee, etc., plus other opportunities that'll show up. There may even have been some more things posted in the events folder here that I haven't put in my favorites yet.

However, it really is hard to find events that expect you (or even allow you, due to peer pressure) to behave as someone from the period for the duration of the event. If anyone knows of other ones upcoming, I'd be interested as well!

Hank Trent
hanktrent@voyager.net

[amontalvo915]

Re: New to the Hobby

I am going to try and see what my husband and I can do about making it to one of those events. I am very curious to see how these event go. Thanks for the help.

Ashley Montalvo

[Hank Trent]

Re: New to the Hobby

If you can make it to one, feel free to get in touch with me at the address below or my wife Linda at lindatrent@zoomnet.net if you have any questions or want to work out a portrayal as our friends, family etc.

Hank Trent
hanktrent@voyager.net

[amontalvo915]

Re: New to the Hobby

Sir-

I will let you know when my husband lets me know if he is able to take off a Friday so we can drive down there.

Also...besides our outfits, what will we need?

Thanks,

Ashley Montalvo

[C. Johnson]

Re: New to the Hobby

Sent you a PM.

Best,
Cody Johnson

[Hank Trent]

Re: New to the Hobby

I will let you know when my husband lets me know if he is able to take off a Friday so we can drive down there.

Also...besides our outfits, what will we need?

Good question. It depends on the event and who you're portraying, so if you're planning to attend one, it's best to plan for it as soon as possible, a few months ahead at least. By then, the event website or coordinator will have detailed information and/or you can ask questions.

Basically speaking, there are events that offer accomodations (period house of some sort), where you may need to just bring or borrow or share minor necessities. These events are rarer, and it almost takes a specific example to say what you'd need. Sometimes plates, food, silverware, etc. are all included, sometimes you need to bring yours, sometimes beds are included, sometimes you need to provide a bedsack and blanket, and so forth.

The other type are events where the historic premise requires staying outdoors, and in that case you'd need to provide all your shelter and necessities for the weekend, and might need to carry them with you from place to place. It wouldn't be much: blanket(s), something waterproof like an oilcloth or floorcloth, your food and a container for it which could be as simple as salt pork and cornmeal in a cloth bag with a frying pan and pocket knife to cook with, and something for water like a bottle, gourd or wooden canteen. You could bring pre-cooked or no-cook food to do without cooking utensils. Other extras would be soap and towel, period toothbrush, and items for the impression like reproduction money, letters or discharge papers, twine, needle and thread, period pencil, or similar period pocket trash.

An average dress, wool or calico with a slat bonnet, and an average working-class man's clothing, sack coat and slouch hat, will do for a wide range of events, and can be dressed up or down depending on how poor or wealthy you need to portray.

As an example, Marmaduke's Raid has nice civilian guidelines already posted here: http://starofthewestsociety.googlepages.com/marmadukes This would be the camping-type event. From the site:

Civilians were in the path of both armies, as well as bushwhackers, and would have had little time to prepare their escape. Assume that we will be packing light. There will be no tents, toilets, cars in camp, or chandeliers. Women should wear serviceable, sturdy clothing. The men will be portraying "Mossbacks"--that is, men who were hiding in the woods to escape impressment.

Just as important is what not to bring. As that web site notes:

Of course no one will bring modern watches or eyeglasses. There will be a secure box available for such items as first aid supplies, medication, sunblock, car keys, etc. This box will not be disturbed during any raids or inspections that may occur during the event

So you'll want to be prepared to meet all your needs (except for medical ones) with period items.

Just as important is what you'd want to know--who you are, why you're doing what you're doing, how you might react to potential situations as the person you'll be portraying. There are usually "rules of engagement" to give general boundaries for what can happen. For example, if you're in hostile territory, it might be that soldiers are allowed to take and eat food but not any other items, or they can only search outer pockets or certain areas.

It sounds like a lot, but if it's your first event and you're teamed up with a more experienced person(s), things like shelter and food/cooking can be shared, and once you settle on a particular event, more specific details can be discussed along with the easiest way to get the minimum.

Hank Trent
hanktrent@voyager.net

[amontalvo915]

Re: New to the Hobby

Sir-

Where would we be able to buy shelter? Would we just use the same as the military? Or is there something bigger we can use?

Thanks,

Ashley Montalvo

[ElizabethClark]

Re: New to the Hobby

Ashley, your best bet is to contact the organizers of events you'd like to attend. Shelters are not always needed, and in general, citizens do not use military-style items. (There are a few exceptions... many Oregon Trail emigrants started off using A and Wall tents, though they did not always bother to set them up as time went on.)